The decline of men : how the American male is getting axed, giving up, and flipping off his future

Guy Garcia.

New York : Harper Perennial, 2009.

Why are so many of today's supermen super-clueless ?Why do so many men prefer the escapist digitized world of Spike TV and Grand Theft Auto to the reality of their own lives?An entire generation of men is slacking off. The struggle to redefine what being a man means in today's world has resulted in widespread male confusion, leading to rampant malaise, alienation, and disconnection. In this eye-opening exploration of this crisis of contemporary American manhood, award-winning journalist Guy Garcia sheds light on a problem that has wreaked havoc on the American family. Packed with startling statistics, informed by pop culture, and narrated in the entertaining style for which Guy Garcia is known, The Decline of Men is an important wake-up call to the distressing reality of the American male

It's junior year at Del Rio Bay High, and Mina's feeling insecure while her boyfriend Brian is at Duke University. Meanwhile, Rob's presence around the clique triggers star athlete JZ's feelings of homophobia.

There’s a lot to take into consideration before you can make a flip. First, you must buy a house. Get to know the neighborhood, including the price range of houses in that area. As you tour through potential houses make a list of everything that needs to be renovated in the house and obtain estimates before you purchase the property.

Appeal tips

Define your target buyerResearch decorating and design trendsPay equal attention to the outside of the houseSelect neutral colors for paint and appliances

Estimating the cost of renovation is the most important factor for you to consider. Knowing what needs to be repaired, removed, added or upgraded is one of the keys to making an accurate assessment of your renovation costs. Factor in not only renovations but also how much it will cost to carry the home--pay the mortgage on it--before it sells. Create a budget with room for surprises you may encounter behind a wall you just removed. You also need to factor in the amount of time you can devote to this adventure.

Be sure the repairs, upgrades and improvements meet your local building codes.

Now your improved house complements the neighborhood and is ready to be put back on the market. Depending on your skills and the market conditions, you can call on real estate agents to give you a fair market price or you can sell the house yourself. Either way, you make a nice profit and the newly refurbished house adds value to the neighborhood.